Match Preview: Arsenal v Everton; Yet another test for Arsenal

Sometimes you just need to open an article with a resounding HOLY SHIT BATMAN. Sometimes the team you are a supporter of is presented with a gilt edge opportunity and you just hope and pray that they can and do. That opening sentiment is how we all feel as Arsenal have a chance to open up a 7 point gap on the nearest title chaser.

That’s right, Saturday saw our nearest competitor Chelsea lose to Stoke. Let me type that again so you know that I didn’t misstate it – Chelsea LOST to Stoke. That means if our Arsenal can turn over tomorrow’s visitors we will have opened up a 7 point gap at the top of the table. The implications of that are huge. It basically makes the matches to City and Chelsea no longer MUST wins. Before you go further – no I am not saying we can take the foot off the gas but winning against Everton and being 7 points above anyone feasibly means we could have a woeful two weeks in the Premier League and still be top of the table.

But this isn’t your David Moyes variety Everton. The David Moyes led Everton were not able to beat Arsenal at home in 17 tries.  Its worse when you think that Arsenal are 14W 0L 3D in that span of 17. No losses. Sadly though David Moyes is doing his best to insure that United take over Everton’s spot at mid table. No, this Everton come into the Emirates bouyed with confidence sufferin 1 loss all season and recently vanquishing their old boss at Old Trafford.

This is another test of this Arsenal squads growth and focus. In the past, when we had a chance to either make up ground or make a statement of intent because others around us faltered we failed to take advantage. But since last March Arsenal have been slowly establishing a new identity and new focus. They aren’t reqlinquishing points easily and even though they have shown spells where they were less than perfect, they have managed to win.  It’s a new Arsenal.

Sure there aren’t locked in believers to that fact yet. Even amongst our own supporters there are still lingering doubters either that they are just eternally bitter that we aren’t the Arsenal of yesteryear they won’t ever support the new direction and new commitment.

The fact is I believe and the most of us believe that Arsenal are a new beast. They have entered each test and passed. When they lost to Aston Villa at the beginning of the year they went about their business and steadily ammassed points to drive them to the top of the table. Then when everyone thought United were back in the title race by beating Arsenal, Arsenal went back to work and spouted off 3 clean sheets while United went in an entirely different direction.

We’re now told that Arsenal’s title hopes hang on the next 3 matches. We’re being told that only after this run of matches are we likely to see people finally believe. To them I say sod off. Arsenal have repeatedly shown this season that they re in it. I don’t need the likes of Alan Hansen and the rest of the bitter Liverpool crew at MOTD to tell me whether or not Arsenal have turned a corner and are genuine title contenders. I’ve seen enough of heartbreak lately to know that we are dealing with a different beast entirely.

While I am worried that the head to head record creates one of those stats that is begging to be broken, I am optimistic that we present Everton the hardest challenge they’ve seen since losing to Manchester City. While Everton are the only squad to score at the Etihad in recent memory, they were undone by a team with a superior midfield and attack. And while I covet the likes of Aguerro and Negredo, I still think our midfield (the best in the league) and overall attack are more than enough to create Everton some nightmares. What we show week in and week out is that our midfield when allowed to play – which I expect Everton to let us do  – can boss a game like no one in the Premier League.

What we’ll have to be wary of is Everton hitting us on the counter. The good thing is our defense has not let up more than one goal since losing to Aston Villa. They’ve gone 6 of 7 in all competitions without conceding a goal and in the one they did concede it was the solitary goal to United which for them seems akin to winning a Cup tie. We are becoming stingy in defense and learning how to find the goal that we need to lock down a match.

We’ve faced off against everyone’s darlings of the moment – Liverpool, Southampton, Cardiff and Hull – when they were coming off of big wins or in positions they weren’t accostomed to and we’ve come out on the positive side. Additionally, playing Hull with 5 starters on the bench means that we’ll have key people rested. Plus we’re only getting healthier in the attack. Theo is close to full fitness after returning to the team and with Leighton Baines out I like Theo to come off the bench and create issues for the Everton defense.

If there is a concern for Arsenal it would be Carl Jenkinson filling in yet again for Mr. Reliable – Bacary Sagna. Sagna is said to be short of fitness after suffering a mild hamstring pull in the middle of the week.  Jenkinson to me is still a long term promising prospect who shows glimpses of class like in his performances in the mid week match versus Hull. But he is also prone to look every bit the  the prospect he is like he did against Chelsea in our Capital One Cup defeat.

With Arsenal unscored upon and Everton with 1 loss, something will have to give. While I think we will see our clean sheet run ended I do believe Arsenal have more than enough to open up a 7 point lead on the title chasers.

Probable Lineups:

Injuries & suspensions:
Arsenal:  Diaby (knee),  Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee) Podolski (hamstring), Sanogo (back) Sagna (hamstring)

Everton: Baines (toe), Kone (knee), Gibson (knee)

Match Official:
Referee: Howard Webb (Matches: 12. R0 Y31 PK 0)
Assistants: Mullarkey, Cann
Fourth Official: Taylor

Arsenal v Everton Head to Head:

Broadcast Information:
US: NBC Sports Network 11:00 AM EST

UK:  SkySports 1 16.00

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YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2

Everton: 1

Match Facts (courtesy FourFourTwo)

• Arsenal have won eight and lost none of their last 12 Barclays Premier League games against Everton.
• Everton have only managed more than one goal in a league game against Arsenal on one occasion in the last 21 meetings.
• The Gunners have won 14 and lost none of the last 17 Premier League home games against the Toffees (D3).
• There have been just four goals scored in the last four Premier League meetings between Everton and Arsenal.
• Howard Webb will officiate Arsenal v Everton on Sunday. The Gunners have won their last eight Premier League games with him as the man in the middle.
• Arsenal are unbeaten at home in the Premier League with Howard Webb as referee (W10 D4 L0).
• Arsenal have scored in 13 of their 14 games and have led in 12 of their 14 games this season, both Premier League highs.
• Mesut Ozil has three goals and six assists in 11 Premier League appearances.
• The Gunners have kept six clean sheets in their last seven games in all competitions, conceding just one goal in the other match (0-1 at Man Utd).
• Everton have lost only Premier League game this season, fewer than any other side.
• The Toffees have kept three away clean sheets in a row for the first time since May 2009; they have not recorded four or more in a row since August 1995 (had a run of five).